Method for determining the radius of a bending die for use with a bending machine for bending a part and an associated apparatus
AssigneeAluminum Company of America
InventorFarhang Pourboghrat
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for determining a bending die radius of a bending machine for bending a part and an associated apparatus. The method involves entering into a computer data concerning the part to be bent and an initial estimate of the radius of the bending die. Based on the data related to the part and the initial estimate, a final value for the die radius is determined. An improved bending machine and an associated method are also disclosed.
Claims26
A method of determining a desired radius for a bending die to be used in a bending machine for bending a part to a desired unloaded bend angle, said part having a cross-sectional shape, a thickness and mechanical properties, said part also consisting of a first end section, an intermediate section and a second end section and including a first boundary section between said first end section and said intermediate section and a second boundary section between said second end section and said intermediate section, said method comprising:
- entering into an electronic processing means a desired unloaded centerline curvature for said part;
- entering into said electronic processing means data relating to said cross-sectional shape of said part, said cross-sectional shape having geometric properties, and said electronic processing means calculating said geometric properties of said cross-sectional shape, including a height for said part;
- entering into said electronic processing means an initial estimate of said bending die radius;
- entering into said electronic processing means an initial estimate of a loaded bend angle for said part;
- entering into said electronic processing means said mechanical properties of said part;
- entering into said electronic processing means said thickness of said part;
- entering into said electronic processing means tension at said first boundary section;
- entering into said electronic processing means conditions related to (i) variation in tension or variation in shear at said first boundary section and (ii) variation in tension or variation in shear at said second boundary section;
- entering into said electronic processing means an initial estimate of a contact pressure variation of said bending die against said part;
- determining deformation of said part during bending of said part;
- calculating an unloaded centerline curvature for said part after said part has been bent and subsequently removed from said bending machine based on said deformation;
- and
- comparing said calculated unloaded centerline curvature to said desired unloaded centerline curvature and based on said comparison, said desired radius for said bending die is determined.
Apparatus for manufacturing a bending die having a desired radius to be used in a bending machine for bending a part to a desired unloaded bend angle, said part having a cross-sectional shape, a height, a thickness and mechanical properties, said part also consisting of a first end section, an intermediate section and a second end section and including a first boundary section between said first end section and said intermediate section and a second boundary section between said second end section and said intermediate section, said apparatus comprising:
- electronic processing means for receiving data related to the design of said bending die, said data comprising (i) a desired unloaded centerline curvature for said part;
- (ii) said cross-sectional shape of said part;
- (iii) an initial estimate of said bending die radius;
- (iv) an initial estimate of a loaded bend angle for said part;
- (v) said mechanical properties of said part;
- (vi) said thickness of said part;
- (vii) tension at said first boundary section;
- (viii) variation in tension or variation in shear at said first boundary section and variation in tension or variation in shear at said second boundary section;
- and (ix) an initial estimate of a contact pressure variation of said bending die against said part;
- said electronic processing means having means for determining deformation of said part during bending of said part;
- said electronic processing means further having means for calculating an unloaded centerline curvature for said part after said part has been bent and subsequently removed from said bending machine based on said deformation;
- said electronic processing means further having means for comparing the calculated unloaded centerline curvature with the desired unloaded centerline curvature and based on said comparison determining said desired radius for said bending die;
- and
- means for employing said desired radius for said bending die in manufacturing a bending die having said desired radius.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.